DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Maya DeLeina

  After a moment of stillness, Steffan released Anya and pushed back to look at her.

  “It’s you!” Anya smiled and sighed in relief. Her speech was slurred.

  “It’s me. It’s always been me,” Steffan said as he stroked himself. “You are never in danger with me. But, Anya…”

  “Yes, Steffan.”

  “I need you to know. I need it dirty. Do as I say.”

  Steffan undid the material wrapped around Anya’s thighs. He grabbed her waist and lifted her so her crotch would be aligned with his in the standing position.

  “Grab the silk, baby,” Steffan instructed as he wrapped the silk around her waist and thighs to hold her in place.

  Then, he thrust the length of his hardness into Anya.

  A droplet of blood fell from his mouth as he parted his lips and moaned. He tore at the body stocking wildly to fully release her breasts. He pounded into her hard, delighting in the way her breasts responded in their vicious waves with his thrusts. Anya leaned her head all the way back, arching her back below her, and whimpered in pleasure. Steffan released one of her hands from the material and laced his fingers through hers. He steadied himself as he ground into her, his pace faster, his rhythm deeper. His moans were short and grew more intense and louder with every movement.

  “What do you want, Anya?”

  “I want you to come. I want to see you. I want to hear what I am doing to you.” Anya’s eyes were heavy lidded. Her lips were pouty and raw.

  “Baby. Do you want to taste me, drink me?” Steffan whimpered.

  “Oh yes! Come in my mouth!” Anya exclaimed.

  “Oh, Anya, baby! You are so beautiful. You’re so damn good.”

  Steffan pulled out of Anya and moved behind her.

  Anya arched her back, her hands gliding effortlessly down the silk as she angled her head back.

  “Jesus, you’re flexible,” Steffan said with a ragged breath as he stroked his cock above her

  Anya opened her mouth wide.

  “Anya, I’m coming! Drink me!” He moaned in pure ecstasy as he pumped his hot release into her mouth over and over again until she was filled.

  Anya looked up at Steffan with her exotic, almond-shaped eyes. Sweat glistened off of her forehead. Her long, black hair was wild and wet. She closed her mouth and swallowed all of Steffan, ending with a swirl of her tongue on her lips.

  Steffan closed his eyes and began to tear.

  This phase of the ritual was complete and Anya was still alive. His love for his mate triumphed over innate instincts to drink her dry.

  Only one phase remained.

  Anya would soon become a vampire.

  * * * *

  The doorbell rang.

  “Michelle!” Steffan said joyfully as he reached down to hug her. “Thank you for coming over, especially in this weather. Anya will be so happy to see you!”

  Steffan kissed her cheek, and Michelle blushed at the momentary thrill she got from his embrace.

  “Sorry, I would’ve been over sooner, but it has been crazy. I finally found a reliable replacement for Anya at the shop and my ex has Chloe for the weekend,” Michelle said as she placed her purse and raincoat in the coat closet near the entry. “How’s my girl doing?”

  Steffan closed the door.

  “I completed the second phase with her two weeks ago. I fear I may have taken too much from her. Her recovery took longer because of this, but she’s doing well now.” Steffan shook his head and slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I’ve been sick to my stomach about what I’ve done. She keeps telling me not to feel guilty, but how could I not?”

  “From what I remember Dominic telling me, wasn’t this the ultimate test before completing the claim?”

  Steffan nodded. “Yes. A femoral drink is the most intimate of exchanges between a human and vampire. And the most dangerous as the vampire’s willpower is tested against their most innate and primal instincts to kill.”

  “Steffan, she’s alive. You passed. You’ve shown that the strength of your love for her could overcome all other powerful forces. Don’t do this to yourself.” Michelle looked down and said softly, “I wonder if I’d said yes, would I have lived past the second phase with Dominic?”

  Steffan hugged Michelle closely. “Take your own advice and don’t continue to beat yourself up about Dominic. It’s been over a year. Release yourself. You’re not to blame for his reaction. You don’t have to feel guilty about saying no. The connection between fated mates is just the first step of the claim. Acceptance of this life is what secures the connection. They have to go hand in hand. This existence is not for everyone. You had to do what was right for you. Let it go, Michelle. Live your life.”

  Michelle wiped back tears as Steffan released her. “You’re right, it’s not like I have an eternity to do things like you and Anya!” she joked to lighten the mood.

  “Let Anya know, Michelle. She’ll understand and talking about it will be your first step in releasing what you’ve harbored in you all this time. It would also help alleviate some worries in Anya. She’s been rehearsing how she was going to break the news to you today that I am a vampire and that she agreed to become one, too. In fact, I think this is why she was so eager to have you have over these past few days.”

  “Okay. I will.”

  “Come inside.” Steffan put his arm around Michelle as they walked to the great room. “Anya should be down from her shower any minute.”

  The floor-to-ceiling windows put the rugged mountain terrain in perfect view. “Wow! This looks eerie!” Michelle said as she stepped to the windows.

  Fog blanketed the mountain vista and the valley below, obstructing the views of the city. A light rain fell. The wind was strong, howling through the valley, making the canopy of trees that pierced through the thick fog to sway with intensity.

  Michelle sat down on the daybed.

  “Michelle!” Anya smiled as she entered the room and ran over to hug her friend. Anya had a glow about her. All of Steffan’s talk about Anya’s recovery and health issues held no merit. She looked radiant and beautiful as ever.

  Anya traced over the wooden floors, barefoot. She dressed all in white, a delicate shimmering noise suspending around her as she moved. She wore her signature attire, a long flowing skirt, and an embellished tank top. This time, she’d added a long-sleeved shrug to the ensemble, the sleeves, a fine netting material, allowing her brown flesh to peek through suggestively in the design. Each sleeve ended in a triangular shape, a little loop hooking around her middle finger, securing it in place. A belly dance belt laced with golden coins sat around her waist. She looked enchanting and magical, like a beautiful gypsy queen.

  “My love! You look absolutely stunning!” Steffan exclaimed.

  He grabbed Anya by the waist and leaned in to a deep kiss. Anya moaned responsively into his mouth.

  Michelle looked away, trying to give them a little piece of privacy.

  “Sorry, Michelle. You’ll have to excuse us. We’re still learning how to control ourselves,” Anya said as she patted Steffan’s behind.

  “Yup. I can see how that can be a problem,” Michelle responded.

  Steffan smirked as he began to walk across the room.

  The women watched him intently. Steffan disappeared through the doorway that led to the kitchen.

  “He’s right. You look wonderful. You have a glow about you. And damn girl…” Michelle paused and lifted Anya’s arms, scanning her outfit up and down. “You make weird look sexy!”

  Anya chuckled. “I have a glow? You know what, I think it’s him. He makes me feel sexy, no matter what I look like on the outside. Like, I was sick last week. I didn’t put a stitch of makeup on. I didn’t do my hair. Hell, there is one day I didn’t even take a bath. But he looked at me with the same eyes, showing me the same amount of affection.”

  Steffan returned in the room with a tray of freshly baked brownies and cups of hot cocoa.

  “What is all this?” A
nya asked.

  “Watching you cook inspired me to try out the kitchen as well. I baked something for the two of you. Well, it was from a box, but it was something of a triumph for me.” Steffan placed the tray on the daybed in between Michelle and Anya.

  “Oh my god. Dark chocolate brownies, Anya! This man’s a keeper for sure!” Michelle laughed, knowing Anya’s weakness for dark chocolate.

  “Ladies, I’ll be with Eilian if you need me,” Steffan said as he excused himself to allow the friends to spend time alone.

  As they did before, they silently watched Steffan walk across the room.

  Anya sighed. “I hate to see him go, but it is so delicious to watch him leave.”

  The two women looked at each other and then burst out in laughter like school girls.

  “A man whose stunningly gorgeous, rich, has an obvious insatiable appetite for sex, worships the very ground you walk on and bakes? I’ll take one for myself, please,” Michelle said as Anya laughed.

  “He is something. When I was young, I would dream of the type of man I would want to marry. You know, make a mental list of all of the physical attributes and personality qualities I wanted. I knew he would never exist. There is no perfect man out there. There are always flaws or things you settle for because the good outweighs the not so good.”

  Honey, I know exactly where you’re leading to.

  She let Anya finish saying what she needed to say.

  “It’s like someone found that list of mine, floating out there, and said, Here he is, everything you asked for and a little something you didn’t.”

  Michelle took a bite of her brownie and casually blurted, “So being a vampire didn’t make the list, obviously.”

  “What!” screamed Anya. “What did you say?”

  “I said, being a vamp—”

  Anya interrupted. “I heard you fine the first time. I don’t get it. H–how did you know? How long have you known? You don’t see a problem with this? Put down the brownie, Michelle, and talk to me!”

  “Patience. Let me enjoy this brownie.” Michelle wanted to burst into laughter. She was purposely dragging this out on Anya.

  “We will get to your first two questions. But first, do I see a problem with this? No, Anya. I want whatever makes you happy. I know what will happen to you and all I ask is that you make sure you remember that I was your best friend after your turning. Promise you won’t forget who I am.”

  “Michelle? Are you a vampire?”

  “Anya. I have laugh lines and crow’s-feet that can give the Grand Canyon a run for its money. And my boobs are hitting the ground. Tell me, have you ever seen a vampire woman in that bad of a body shape before?”

  Anya just smiled and shook her head.

  “Of course not! I’m falling apart, breaking down. My extended warranty expired long ago on this body. I am human, honey. Weird…yes, but human, nonetheless.”

  “Then how do you know all of this stuff with remembering, recalling your human past?”

  “I live in Manitou Springs, I hear things.” Michelle dusted the remnants of the brownie crumbs off of her hands and then reached for the cup of cocoa. “So, can you do everything possible to assure you remember me? Keep our pictures around as a reminder of our friendship?”

  “I could never forget you, Michelle. I promise. I won’t forget you. Steffan said we’re supposed to retain things that were close to our heart. I love you. So I don’t think there is even a chance that I would not recall you.”

  “And have you mentioned anything about Ryan to Steffan?”

  “Michelle, shh!”

  “What?”

  Anya ran to the entry of the great room. The delicate coins on her belt made it sound like a horse-drawn sleigh was in the room. She stopped abruptly at the doorway, rested her hand against the wall and leaned forward, to peer around the corner. After a brief second, Anya turned around and ran back to Michelle.

  “No, why should I?” Anya whispered.

  “Nice way to start off your relationship. You’ve got a big lie hanging between the two of you.”

  “Look, I just don’t want to open that whole can of worms. Besides, I won’t remember him after I turn.”

  “Well, that is a good point.”

  “But why are you so accepting? You don’t believe in mortality. You believe we embody new forms and our spirit never dies. It will go against everything you believe in.”

  “And you believe in mortality. You’ve been surrounded by death your entire life. Belief is personal and individualistic, Anya. I understand your need for this and I think it’s a right choice for you. For me, I have my beliefs, and I have Chloe. I couldn’t make the same choice as you. This is why I never spoke of Dominic to you.”

  “What! Dominic was a vampire?”

  Michelle nodded. “Yes. In fact, he was once a part of Steffan’s family. This is how I first met Steffan. He saved my life, Anya.”

  “Hold on! Start at the beginning, Michelle! And don’t leave anything out!”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ryan lay on his back, eyes shut and arms folded behind his head.

  It had been almost a month since he had last seen Anya in the flesh. After the unexpected exchange with Steffan in the dining room that evening, he’d never attempted another visit. Any thoughts on a strategy to steal Anya away had fallen to the wayside. He was left with no feasible options. Steffan’s hold on her was too strong, and he was too powerful a force to face on his own. Anya would remain his torment and obsession. She consumed him, and the only connection he had with her was his imagination and this place.

  The air turned heavy as the smell of chalky earth alerted his senses. He opened his eyes. The sky was alive in frenzy. A mass of ominous clouds swirled in shades of gunmetal and black. They plagued the blue sky, overpowering its tranquility and suffocating the light.

  Ryan got up and kneeled at the headstone as he made a final adjustment to the flowers he’d placed at the grave. He stood over the grave to say his good-byes before the thunderstorm hit. He shook his head. “Anise, I will never understand why I cannot remember a beautiful woman like you.”

  “Maybe it’s because she didn’t belong to you,” a voice rang out behind Ryan.

  Ryan turned around to find a woman standing behind him. She wore sunglasses even though the sun’s light had been fully extinguished by the thunderclouds rolling in.

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s Ryan, Ryan Evans, correct?” the woman responded as she took off her glasses. Her round face was framed by wavy, shoulder-length hair in a reddish-brown tone. She was a bit unflattering for Ryan’s taste. Her hair lacked any natural color qualities, too obvious of a straight-from-the-bottle dye job. Everything about her seemed overdone, makeup, clothes, perfume, and nail polish. She lacked the sophistication that he demanded of his women.

  “Yes. I’m Ryan. Do I know you?”

  “I’m Madeline Doyle. I’m sure you would’ve known who I was if Steffan bothered to introduce you to the rest of the family here in town.”

  “You’re one of us?”

  Madeline nodded.

  “Yes. I’m the one who works in the police department as a detective. I am the one who reports to Steffan on rogue vampire activity near our town. I am also the one who supplied him with background information on a human he recently turned.”

  “Are you talking about me?”

  “Yes, Ryan.”

  “So what do you mean, Anise didn’t belong to me? Was she married and I didn’t know it? Or did I know it? What do you know?”

  Madeleine sidestepped Ryan’s question. “Tell me, how is Steffan these days? The rest of the family hasn’t seen or heard from him in quite some time. I hear he took a mate recently.”

  The thunder cracked through the sky and jolted Ryan and Madeleine. Heavy rain drops began to fall.

  “Ryan, we need to get out of this weather! We can have lightning at any moment now! Come to my car, we need to talk.” Madeleine turned to make he
r way down the hill.

  “No!” Ryan grabbed Madeleine’s arm. “You didn’t answer me. What do you mean she didn’t belong to me? Tell me!” Ryan demanded. The wind gained strength and tossed his long bangs across his angry face. Rain cascaded along his jawline.

  “Anise never belonged to you. Steffan lied! He lied to everyone.”

  “What? Steffan lied to me? I never had a relationship with Anise? This doesn’t make sense. Why would he make up something like that?”

  “Think!” Madeline screamed.

  Ryan searched Madeline’s eyes. Full of frustration, her eyes pleaded for understanding.

  “Ryan, once I told him all about your past and he saw her, he wanted her for himself. He has special powers to enthrall our kind. He erased your memory of her. He erased her memory of you.”

  Ryan grabbed Madeline at the shoulders and shook her violently. “What are you saying? Say it, damnit!”

  “Anya. She was your wife! Anya is yours! Steffan took her from you. This is why you have no recollection of Anise. You never had a relationship with Anise.”

  The wind and rain pelted Madeline’s face, sending her heavy mascara to carve deep-black rivers in her face.

  Ryan released Madeline’s shoulders and stood still. Horror gripped him as he processed all that Madeline had just revealed to him.

  He felt his eyes burn with fury.

  “No!” Ryan wailed. “It was Anya all this time? I’ve watched him fuck my own wife?” Ryan’s eyes grew wild with anger. “This is why he’s kept me from meeting her. Everyone said I couldn’t meet her until after their claim was complete!”

  Ryan’s heart sank.

  He fisted his rain-soaked hair. “Goddamnit! Steffan’s probably already claimed her. You have to come with me. Confirm this with the rest of the family. I have to get her back!”

  Ryan started to run off to his car as he dragged Madeline by the wrist behind him.